Did Pope Francis Really Have a Chemistry Degree?

You've probably seen this fact floating around the internet: Pope Francis has a master's degree in chemistry. It makes for a great story—the leader of the Catholic Church with a science background! But like many viral facts, this one needs some serious correction.

The truth is simpler and less impressive. Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) did study chemistry, but he never earned a master's degree in the subject. What he actually received was much more modest.

What He Really Studied

As a teenager in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio attended the Escuela Técnica Industrial No. 12, a state-run technical secondary school. At age 19, he graduated with a título in industrial chemistry—essentially a technical certificate. In American terms, think associate's degree or community college diploma, not a four-year university degree and definitely not a master's.

He did work as a chemist for a short time in a food science laboratory, testing foods. But this was entry-level technical work, not the career of someone with an advanced degree.

Why the Confusion?

The confusion likely stems from a few factors:

• The word "título" can be mistranslated or misunderstood as a full degree
• In 1950s Argentina, technical school education was rigorous and extended beyond typical high school
• People love the narrative of a Pope with a science background
• The story gets exaggerated as it spreads online

For Bergoglio's generation and social class, university education was often out of reach. Argentine public education was free, but there was still an elitist barrier to earning a licentiate or doctorate. Technical schools provided practical career training for working-class students.

What Degrees Does He Actually Have?

Pope Francis does hold legitimate graduate degrees—just not in chemistry. After entering seminary, he earned a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo de San José in 1963, roughly equivalent to a master's degree. He later earned another licentiate in theology from the same institution.

He even began doctoral studies in Germany in the late 1960s, focusing on the work of theologian Romano Guardini. But he returned to Argentina before completing his dissertation, so no doctorate either.

The bottom line: Pope Francis had a brief technical education in chemistry and worked in the field before finding his calling in the priesthood. It's an interesting part of his background, but calling it a "master's degree" significantly overstates his academic credentials in science. His actual graduate education came later, in philosophy and theology—which makes a lot more sense for someone who became Pope.